Enhanced Fujita scale damage indicators and degrees of damage, chapter 16


Junior and Senior High Schools (JHSH)

Typical Construction:

  • Generally large one- or two-storey buildings with flat roofs; may contain gymnasiums, cafeteria and auditorium with large structural spans; may have a basement
  • Classroom wings have interior hallways with bearing or non-bearing interior walls
  • BUR or single-ply membrane roof covering with or without gravel; structural system may consist of an all steel structure or an all reinforced concrete structure or a combination of both
  • Roof structure may be light steel construction with open web joists supported on steel beams; corrugated metal roof deck with rigid insulation or poured gypsum deck
  • Exterior walls constructed of concrete or clay blocks with brick veneer, stucco or EIFS; metal and glass curtain walls; walls may have more than 30% windows
Table 16. Degree of Damage (DOD) for Expected (EXP), Lower Bound (LB) and Upper Bound (UB)
DOD Damage Description EXP* LB* UB*
1 Threshold of visible damage 110 90 135
2 Loss of roof covering (up to 20%) 125 105 160
3 Broken windows 140 115 170
4 Exterior door failures 165 135 195
5 Uplift of metal roof decking; significant loss of roofing material (more than 20%); loss of rooftop HVAC 165 135 190
6 Damage to or loss of wall cladding 175 150 205
7 Collapse of tall masonry walls at gym, cafeteria or auditorium 185 150 220
8 Uplift or collapse of light steel roof structure 200 175 240
9 Collapse of exterior walls in top floor 225 195 245
10 Most interior walls of top floor collapsed 255 215 300
11 Complete destruction of all or a large section of building 310 260 360

*All wind speeds in km/h

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